The one where Lily meets Ginny
Authors Notes: Hi. It's Pidgie here. I am so sorry for the wait but you have no idea how difficult it was to write this chapter. I kept ripping out my hair and screaming at the computer, wishing it would write itself like previous chapters.
It was really hard because I didn't want it come to this, I had about four different ideas for the ending, but I had to have a tie in to some of the other hints of the ending I had. Finally, I came up with this and please don't hate me because that would just be the icing on the cake. LOL.
I'm still not happy with some parts and they will probably stick out like a sore thumb. Everything seems so rushed and I took so long to write it! Kind of defeats the purpose, eh? Anyway, on with the story.
James fell back into the chair, his face pale and sweating. The spell was sealed and so was his fate. Lily walked in with Harry, flanked by Sirius and Remus, her face composed. He stood wearily and took the one-year-old who was celebrating his birthday today from Lily.
'Was he much trouble?' James asked, holding the child close.
'No, Uncle Sirius and Uncle Remus kept explaining Quidditch and women him.' Lily shook her head, a smile playing on her features. 'And I caught Padfoot adding brandy to his apple juice!'
'Hey, the little fella deserves something a little stronger on his birthday!' Sirius said defensively.
'Oh, I agree. Maybe we should go double whiskey next time?' James grinned at the look on Lily's face, a mix between horror and humor.
She took Harry off him and rolled her eyes. 'You are going to give me a stomach ulcer, I know it.' Lily walked out of the room.
'So, is it all set?' Remus asked in a whisper.
'Yep. Down to her favorite band.' James looked over his shoulder at Peter who was looking through the small book collection on the coffee table. 'I think she really needs this. Lily has been really upset for quite a while...since Dumbledore told us of You-Know-Who's plans. If we have this party she should lighten up.'
'Trouble in paradise?' Sirius asked knowingly, flinging himself into the chair, making it go back a few meters.
'You have no idea. I'm going into the third week of sleeping on the couch.' James groaned.
'Third week? You haven't been laid in three weeks?' Sirius looked like he was going to faint. Remus on the other hand looked sick.
'Got it in one, Pads.' James bent and picked up one of Harry's toys from the floor, a ball, and threw it at Peter. 'How about you, Pete? How's married life treating you?'
'Oh...its, uh, fine.' He scratched his nose that was rather ratty.
'What are you four talking about?' Lily asked, returning from her trip to the kitchen to clean up the mess.
'Nothing.' All of them said at once.
'Why does that not inspire much confidence?'
'Remus, you are going to be used one day, used by the fates as a pawn in this game. Make sure you don't waste time. Live your life, or you will feel that the day has come too soon.'
Ellie's parting words had haunted him all his life. He had made sure that he had done everything he wanted, well, once he had married Ginny of course since everything he had ever wanted had revolved around her from almost the moment he had first laid eyes on Lily. Remus had made friends, had children and now even had a grandchild to call his own. He would not call himself old, in the wizarding world, he was still a spring chicken, and he had aged gracefully.
Sirius and Janet tied the knot after three whole years of him begging her to get rid of the old stiff that had married her. It always amused Ginny and Remus to see them together. They were so completely made for each other it was scary. What the two did not know is that Sirius and Janet thought the same thing about them, from the way they said so much in a single smile to the way a fight can last the total of three seconds. When it dawned of Ginny that she and Remus worked better than James and Lily, it confused her and made her wonder what Dumbledore had seen to say that they were soul mates.
Harry and his wife, a vague girl who hardly ever showed her face in family affairs, were living in Godric's Hollow with their two children. Ginny had given it over to Harry on his wedding day, after crying for three days at the prospect of handing over the house. The home had so many memories; the only consolation was that at least Harry and Ally would let them visit any time.
Hermione and Andrew were living in luxury; their entire lives paid for by the sheer amount of tabloids the two had starred on. Everyone wanted to know more about their past lives, and they had books out on how to reach your other selves. It was quite funny to the inside circle of friends they had. They did not know the first thing about getting their other lives. It just came naturally to them. However, no one was complaining when they received expensive gifts from them at Christmas.
Anna was the Lupin heir. She was smart, funny, beautiful and a white werewolf to boot. Her persuasiveness that had proved itself when she was a child had grown. Lesath taught her everything there was to know about law and Anna had scored many rights for Dark Creatures such as werewolves that previously had been mere dreams. The prejudice towards them was slowly ebbing away and the attacks that had plagued the past were now rare and punished.
Remus had finally given up his job as Defense against the Dark Arts teacher, preferring to spend the rest of his life with his beautiful wife. Ginny had resigned as well, handing over everything to the next generation. Having washed their hands clean of all responsibilities, other than friends and family, it was no surprise when Remus found himself woken up at an obscenely early time in the morning.
He walked down the stairs, mindful of the creaking one. The room was dark and, if he had been any younger, he would have sworn there were creatures lurking in there. The lights kindled as he stepped into the room and he took a sigh of relief as he saw how empty it was. Soon he had a cup of tea, some basic breakfast items and was sitting on the porch in his slippers and cotton pajamas.
Remus loved watching the sunrise. He remembered one anniversary when Ginny had woken him up just as the sun rose out of the hills so he could enjoy breakfast she had spent hours cooking looking at the golden orb heat the land. His life was perfect right now, it was shocking.
He heard footsteps behind him and assumed it was his wife. Why not, they were the only ones who could appreciate a sunrise in the strange backwater county. When he turned his head, however, he saw someone completely different.
Ellie stood there, her hands on her hips and her stance relaxed. Remus was not scared over the sight of Ellie, but the look of her. She was as young and as beautiful as she had been when she had left him. Her dark, long hair flowed down her robe, as black as the clothes she wore. Dark blue eyes that saw straight into the soul were looking at the sun as it struggled into the sky. She did not seem worried over her sudden reappearance.
'Nice to see you again, Remus. I'm afraid I can't stay long. I'm on duty right now. I think you know why I'm here.' She took a seat, stealing some of his toast.
'The fates are going to use me.' He frowned. 'I don't know what that means...'
'It means, Remus, my dear, that I am going to kill you.' Ellie's voice was casual as she said this, and took his silence as a good time to take a bite from the toast.
'You are going to kill me? What are you talking about?'
'Ginny needs some motivation to go back in time and save her older self.'
'Wha-Ellie-You're-Are you insane?' Remus spluttered.
'Of course not. I'm just doing a favor for the fates. I'm like the messenger to the gods. Pretty average stuff. Run around doing errands, killing people, giving notes...the pays not great but I'm immortal so yeah.' She shrugged.
'I thought you were my mate!'
'I was. I just had to guide you, make sure you lived to get back with Ginny.' Ellie wiped her mouth free of crumbs. 'Anything else, sweetie? I have to get this over with because she's going to wake up any moment now.'
Remus nodded, still shaken by all this, having thought Ellie was normal for more than half his life. 'I wish I was her soul mate, though. So I would be with her in the next life.'
'I guess they won't mind if they let me tell you this,' Ellie said, grinning. She took his shoulders in her hands and gave him a slight shake. 'You are her soul mate.'
'But-James!'
'James was just a good friend and they had to fall in love to have Harry. You, Remus, are her universe. That is why Ginny survived the attack from Voldemort. He didn't kill her very reason for being. He didn't kill you. Now, can you get into a good position so I can smite you?'
Remus moved over to a place free of furniture of plants. 'Are you sure I have to die?'
'Positive. In fact, that was an insult.' She brought out a caduceus, which Remus thought looked like a glorified wand, and waved it. 'I'm still getting used to this bloody thing. I want my wand back.'
A white cloud that looked like a puff of breath blew out from the caduceus and surrounded Remus. He felt his knees weaken, his arms loosen and all the tension leave his face. With a groan from his part, his body fell to the floor, stone cold and dead.
'Who are you-Remus!'
Ginny, who looked like rather ruffled from her sleep, knelt by Remus' form and checked him for life. When she found none, she moaned, her heart feeling like it had been broken, stomped on and put in a blender. Her life was so empty now, it seemed, and nothing would ever be the same again.
'Ginny, I'm sorry for your loss.' Ellie said, putting a comforting hand on her shoulder. 'However, this is neither the time nor the place to grieve. Please sit. We need to talk about things that you must do.'
She nodded, knowing that every little thing that was happening meant nothing in the end. Everything was useless now that Remus was dead. Her eyes were dry, though, and it was with a stony face that she sat down in the chair still warm from her lover's body.
'Who are you?' Ginny asked, her green eyes cold.
'I am Ellie. I have no last name so don't even ask. I killed Remus because you have a job to do.'
'Go back in time and save the world?' Her voice was sarcastic and rather caustic. 'And die whilst trying.'
'You were much quicker than Remus was, I'll give you that.' Ellie handed her a Time-Turner, one that was tiny and had several buttons. 'Press the red one to go back in time and tell Lily that the green one goes forward. I have preset the dates, so it will be perfect. You will have to Apparate there, though. Oh, and,' Ellie clicked her fingers and brought out a mirror from her robes. 'Now you look like Lily. Good luck.'
With that, she disappeared with a small 'pop'. Ginny pressed the red button and felt the familiar sensation of being dragged back through time.
Lily was curled up in front of the fire, reading a book, sipping hot chocolate and keeping an eye of Harry's crib when Ginny Apparated in front of her. She jumped out of her seat, thinking that it was a Death Eater who had made its way into the house. Although that was not how the story went, it could still happen.
'Calm down. It's me. I'm an older version of you come back to save the day.' Now Ginny knew why she had sounded so sarcastic and bored. 'Voldemort is a few minutes away from murdering the Potters. You have to go forward in time.'
'Wait a minute if you are really me...what is James' favorite color?' Lily asked, hands on hips.
'The color of our eyes, except in robes where it is dark blue, and in socks when it is crimson red.' Ginny said succinctly. 'Can you save James too?'
Ginny looked up from the Time-Turner and shrugged. 'You can ask him if he wants to come along.'
Lily ran into the kitchen. James was there, reading the paper and humming a song he hated but could not get out of his head. 'Hey there, Pumpkin.' He said, putting down the newspaper.
'James, what would you do if I told you that you had to go into the future to avoid being killed by You-Know-Who?'
'I would tell you to lay off the medication. Why?'
'Because it's true.'
'Lily?'
'Look, Harry will be all right, we just have to go forward in time a few years. Can you do that for me?'
'I think I have been very supportive to you, Lily. But this goes over the line. We have to protect Harry, not just leave him here! Especially if He-Who-Shall-Not-Be-Named is just around the corner as you say.' He stood up and hugged her. 'Peter wouldn't have betrayed us. I know you believe it, you've been told all about it and all that, but come on. If Alexia can love him, marry him, even bear his child, then I don't see how he can be as slippery as a snake. He's a Gryffindor, honey. He has his loyalty.'
'James Potter, you can be so naïve! What if...Alexia is in on it too? What if she is egging him on? We would be in very deep trouble if that were the case.'
'Dammit Lily, listen to me!' James' voice was only raised a tiny bit, but it was more than he had ever done before. 'I think it is Remus who is the betrayer. He is a Dark Creature, after all. It is in his genetics to be evil.'
'You are missing the point, James! Peter was getting all friendly-like with Snape. Snape is a Death Eater, I saw him take the mark on our honeymoon.'
'Do you have any idea how crazy this all sounds?'
'Almost as crazy as not getting out of this house that will turn into a death trap if we don't leave!'
'I am not leaving my son, my blood and flesh, here to be killed by that slimy bastard, Lily!'
'You stubborn man! Have it that way!' With that, she stormed out of the kitchen and into the living room where Ginny was pouring herself some of their scotch. 'Alright, come on. Save me, dammit.'
'Go hide under those books.' She demanded, sitting in the couch after tickling under Harry's chin. 'Oh and here, press the green button when you want to go back to our time. Apparate to Remus'. He is a good friend of ours.' Ginny threw the Time-Turner to Lily.
'Wow, haven't seen one of these in a while.'
'Good luck, Lils.'
'Thanks Ginny.'
There was a pounding on the door and everything in the house stopped, from the soft ticking of the clock on the mantle to the crackling of the flames in the hearth. James came into the lounge, still fuming over his fight with his wife and went to open the door.
There was no need. It was Voldemort.
Second Author's Notes: Alrighty. That was the second last chapter in all it's crappy goodness. I will be writing James' alternate version (where he is reincarnated and Remus isn't Ginny's soul mate), padding to the story so basically...FLUFF...and Remus' background. Oh, and Iselin's Good Alexia story. Yay. Anyway, on to the reviews!
Iselin: Whoops, I kinda broke that "not speaking bad about my chapters" rule. Anyway, I hope the whole messenger to the gods thing was cool. I didn't know if it was too cliché-y, even though most of the stuff in Harry Potter is cliché in one way or another. Clay pigs rawk. I want one to put on my windowsill next to my dying plant (it's a White Lily or something. I feel evil.). At least I wouldn't have to feed the clay pig! Anna's attributes were a bit of a mistake. It should have said that she was as...etc. as they were at the same age. I doubt she can do a Patronus at that exact time :). Glad you like my characters! Thanks for being such a loyal reviewer!
Darth Flirt: You have to read Remus' background because everyone is evil. Even the doormat. He chews people's feet on the way out! Muhahahahahaha. The next chapter should have Voldemort and Alexia in it, and well, you know...they are the eviliest people in my story.
Jen: Thanks, hehe. Sorry it took so bloody long. I had something that starts with W and ends with Riter's Block.
Tiger Lily: If I measure out the dark stuff with plot it reaches a balance! Again, sorry it was so slow to be written.
Adrilly: I love writing Remus and Ginny fluff and will most likey write a ton of it to go on my website. If I ever get my ruddy banner off Luke (aww, Luke, you know I love ya!)
Bluegirl18: Hope this explained Harry's whole stuff. If I can be bothered (I rarely write about Harry since JK. Rowling does it all for me, lol) I'll write the romance between Ally and Harry. And OMG I didn't realize how many gosh darned OC I had in my story! Alexia, Porcia, Ellie, Ally, Janet, Andrew, Robert, Annabel, Anna...wowee.
Thank you to anyone who reads this. You guys rule. And if anyone can tell me who the 100th reviewer was, I'll give them a...life time supply of air. I should have done something special for it. Darn. Anyway. Thanks!